Hosiery moistener



Oct. 14, 1941.

H. F. WANAMAKER HOS IERY MOISTENER Filed July 26, 1959 3 Sheets-$11361. l

2 lawe-rcz a 1941- H. F. WANAMAKER 2259406 HosIERY MOISTENER Filed July 26, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 14, 1941.

HOSIERY MOIS'I'ENER Fil ed July 26, 1939 3 SheetS-Sheet 3 IruuevwZr,

H. F. WANAMAKEQR 2,259,406

Patented Oct. 14, 1941 HO SIERY MOISTENER Harry F. Wanamaker, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Proctor & Schwartz, Incorporated, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application July 26, 1939, Serial No. 286,695

3 Claims.

This invention relates to hosiery moisteners and more particularly to those which employ steam as the moistening medium. It has been known to pass hosiery mounted on forms through steam or vapor clouds in chambers prior to the forms entering a drying chamber. Such procedure is not entirely satisfactory, as the vapor tends to condense on the relatively cold form and stocking thereon and the drops of condensation tend to spot modern sheer silk hosiery.

The present invention contemplates the application of steam to opposite sides of a stocking on a form through felt pads stretched over perforated front walls of a pair of steam boxes movable simultaneously into contact with the opposite sides respectively of the stocking on the form, while the form is momentarily stopped in advance of its entrance into the drying chamber, whereby the steam is spread out in the pad and, when the pad is pressed against the stocking, permeates the fabric of the stocking at all points simultaneously over the area disposed within the margins'of the moistener.

As the pads make contact with the stocking, live steam is admitted to the steam boxes and mechanical pressure is applied to the moisteners, whereby the felt pads, backed up by the perforated front walls of the steam boxes, press the hosiery at the same time as the steam is permeating the fabric, thus the stockings, or at least the welts thereof only in some cases, are moistened under pressure, which in addition to smoothening the fabric on the form eliminates condensation and resultant spotting of the hosiery.

The construction and operation of the apparatus forming the subject of the present invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device and sufficient of a hosiery dryer to illustrate the relation of the one to the other;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the steam. boxes;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of one of the movable steam boxes employed for steaming and pressing the hosiery;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a moistener adapted to contact the full length of a stocking; and

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6, Fig. 5.

In the present instance, the drying chamber of a hosiery drying machine is shown at l. A track 2 extends through and outwardly beyond the drying chamber and supports a series of carriages 3 on which hosiery forms 4 are respectively mounted. The carriages 3 and forms 4 are propelled along the track 2, through and outside the drying chamber l, by spiral ribbon cams 5 which are mounted on and rotated by shafts 6. A dryer of this general type is disclosed in the United States patent to Coulston and Schwartz, No. 1,126,619, dated January 26, 1915.

In the present instance welt or full length hosiery moisteners in the form of steam boxes Iil, H! are mounted at opposite sides of the track 2, immediately in advance of a slot formed in the front of the drying chamber 1 and through which the forms 4 pass in entering the drying chamber.

Each moistener or steam box In (see Fig. 4) comprises a marginal frame ll, an imperforate back plate 12, and a perforated front plate I3. The moisteners Ill are arrangedwith the perforated front plates [3, l3 facing each other at the opposite sides respectively of the track 2. Steam inlets and outlets l4 and I5 respectively provide for circulation of steam within the hollow center 16 ofeach moistener Ill.

Each of the perforated plates [3 is preferably covered by a felt pad ll which is adapted to make contact with a stocking, either along the full length thereof as in Figs. 5 and 6, or, if desired, only the welt as in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, while the form 4 on which the stocking is positioned is momentarily stopped between the moisteners l0, ill, said moisteners at that time being in their outward relative spaced positions to permit entrance of the stocking laden form therebetween. The pads I! are secured in place on the moisteners I0, ill by clamp rings [8.

Each moistener I0 is supported by a lever I9 which is pivoted at 20 to a framework 2| below the track 2. The lower ends of the levers I9 are connected by toggle links 22 to a vertically movable block 23 which is secured to a vertical rod 24, the rod 24 being slidably mounted in bearings 25 formed in the framework 2!. The lower end of the rod 24 is pivotally connected at 26 to one end of a lever 21.

The lever 21 is pivoted at 28 to an extension of the framework 2! and the opposite end of said lever is pivotally connected at 29 to one end of a second vertically slidable rod 39. The rod 30 is mounted in bearings 3i, 3! formed in the extension 32 of the framework 2i.

The upper end of the rod 30 is provided with a yoke 33 in which is rotatably mounted a roller 34 arranged to be contacted by a cam 35 which is mounted on the shaft 6. The peripheral high portion of the cam 35 coincides with the outer surface of one portion 31 of a convolution of the spiral ribbon cam 5. The cam 35 is provided with a depression 38 into which the roller 34 is forced by a spring 39 at such time as a form 4 is stopped momentarily by an interruption in the continuity of the spiral ribbon cam 5, between the end 49 of one section 5a thereof and the following end 4| of a section 5b of said ribbon cam.

When the roller 34 enters the recess 38 in the cam 35 the spring 39 rocks the lever 21 and this leverjin turn, moves the rod 24 upwardly and, through the links 22, 22 rocks the levers 29, 29, to bring the moisteners Ill, Ill, into contact. with the opposite sides respectively of the welt of the stocking mounted on the momentarily stationary form 4.

Steam circulating through the steam boxes Ill, 'Ill' passes through the perforations in the plates I13; and permeates the felt pads 1:1, by which the steam is brought into. contact with the stocking at opposite sides respectively of the form 4.

Further rotation of the shaft 6 and cam 35 moves the levers I9 in the opposite direction, releasing the moisteners Ill, Ill from the form 4, at which time the cam section 51) picks up the carriage 3 and advances it and the form 4 into the drying chamber I.

Admission of steam to the pipe I4 is controlled by a valve 45- and the exhaust of steam from the pipe I5 is controlled by a valve 46. These valves, in the present instance, are of the spring loaded self-closing type. The valve stems 47 and 48 of said valves are engaged by levers 49 and 59 respectively, the outer ends of which are connected by links-5|. and 5Ia to one of the steam box levers I9. 'With this arrangement, when the levers I 9 are rocked to bring the steam boxes Ill, I'll into contact with a stocking on the form 4, the valve 4 5 will be opened to admit steam through the pipes l4 into the steam boxes Ill, I9, and when the levers I9 are rocked in the opposite direction to release the steam boxes from the stocking, the valve 46 will be opened to permit the steam and condensation to exhaust from the steam boxes, Ill, Ill.

In. order to insure the passage of a form 4 between the steam boxes Ill, Ill, each of the boxes is provided on its forward edge with a guide plate 52, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Figs. 5. and 6 illustrate steam boxes Illa, Illa of a size and shape to cover the full area of the stocking form 4a, including the welt, leg and foot portion thereof. In this instance each of the steam boxes Illa is supported on horizontally slidable rods 53 operatively mounted in bearings 54, 54 carried by a suitable framework 55 which is supported on the carriage track 2a at its lower end and by a bracket 56 at its upper end, which is secured to the front wall of the drying chamber Ia; The outer end of each of the slide rods 53 is coupled to one arm of a bell-crank lever 51'. The second arm of each bell-crank, at each of the opposite sides of the form 4a, are connected by links 58, 59, clearly shown in Fig; 6. The links 58, 58 are connected by links 59, 59 to levers 66, 60'. The levers 69, 6.0 are secured to a shaft BI which is rockably mounted in bearings 62, 62 supported from the underside of the track 2a, as illustrated in Fig. 6.. Secured to the shaft BI is a lever 62 on the outer end of which is rotatably mounted a cam roller 63. The cam roller 63 is adapted to ride in a cam slot 64 of a cam 65 which is secured to one of the shafts 6 provided for driving the ribbon cams 5.

Steam is admitted to the steam boxes Illa, Illa through pipes Ma, Ma respectively and exhausted therefrom through pipes |5a, I50. respectively. The inlet and exhaust of the steam to and from the boxes Illa, Illa is controlled in the manner as above described.

The operation of a device shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is substantially the same as in the structures shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The ribbon cam section 5a advances the hosiery form 4a to a position between the steam boxes Illa, Illa, at which time the cam 65 rocks the lever 62, shaft SI and levers 60, 59 which, through the links 59, 59 and 58, 58, rock the bell-crank levers 51, 51 and slide the supporting posts 53, 53 with the steam boxes Illa, Illa on the inner ends thereof toward the opposite sides respectively of the form 4a. Steam is admitted through the pipes Ma, Ma and the stocking on. the form is thereby pressed and steamed. Continued operation of the cam 65 moves the elements. in the opposite directions to withdraw the steam boxes Illa, Iila from the stocking on the form 4a, leaving said stocking in a flat smooth moist. condition thereon. At the same time, the supply of steam is. out off from the pipes Ma, Ma and the pipes I-5a, I:5a are opened to exhaust. The end 4laof the cam section 5b at this time engages the driving lug or roller I on the carriage 3a and moves the form 4a.out of position from between the steam boxes Illa, Illa into the drying chamber Ia. Immediately thereafter the end 49a of the cam 5a advances another stocking form into position for a repeat of the operation.

I claim:

1 A hosiery pretreating device for use with a hosiery dryer which includes a drying chamber and a track partly contained within and partly exposed outside said chamber with a series of hosiery-supporting forms mounted on and adapted to traverse said track through and outside said chamber, said device comprising a pair of steam boxes located at opposite sides respectively of said track adjacent the form entrance of said chamber, a shaft below and extending parallel to that portion of said track along which said forms move to enter said chamber, an interrupted spiral cam on said shaft and including one portion adapted to move said forms successively along said portion of said track and having a tail end which permits stopping each form in a position intermediate said steam boxes and a second portion having a lead end in circumferentially spaced relation to the tail end of said first portion for moving said forms successively from said intermediate position into said chamber, and a cam rotating in one-to-one ratio to said shaft for operating said steam boxes into and out of contact with said interposed form and including a dwell portion for maintaining said contact throughout a substantial portion of the period of interposition of said form between said steam boxes.

2; A hosiery pretreating device for use with a hosiery dryer which includes a drying chamber and a trackpartly contained within and partly exposed outside said chamber with a series of hosiery-supporting forms mounted on and adapted to traverse said track through and outside said chamber, said device comprising a pair of steam boxes located at opposite sides respectively of said track adjacent the form entrance of said chamber, a shaft below and extending parallel to that portion of said track along which said forms move to enter said chamber, an interrupted spiral cam on said shaft and including one portion adapted to move said forms successively along said portion of said track and having a tail end which permits stopping each form in a position intermediate said steam boxes and a second portion having a lead end in circumferentially spaced relation to the tail end of said first portion for moving said forms successively from said intermediate position into said chamber, a cam on said shaft adjacent one end of said spiral cam for operating said steam boxes into and out of contact with said interposed form and including a dwell portion for maintaining said contact throughout a substantial portion of the period of interposition of said form between said steam boxes, a pair of arms pivoted to and at opposite sides respectively of said track for supporting said steam boxes for rocking motion transversely of said track, a lever below and parallel to said shaft with one end in operating relation to the steam box operating cam on said shaft, and toggle means connecting the opposite end of said lever with said steam box supporting arms.

3. A hosiery pretreating device for use with a hosiery dryer which includes a drying chamber and a track partly contained within and partly exposed outside said chamber with a series of hosiery-supporting forms mounted on and adapted to traverse said track through and outside said chamber, said device comprising a pair of steam boxes located at opposite sides respectively of said track adjacent the form entrance of said chamber, a shaft below and extending parallel to that portion of said track along which said forms move to enter said chamber, an interrupted spiral cam on said shaft and including one portion adapted to move said forms successively along said portion of said track and having a tail end which permits stopping each form in a position intermediate said steam boxes and a second portion having a lead end in circumferentially spaced relation to the tail end of said first portion for moving said forms successively from said intermediate position into said chamber, a cam on said shaft adjacent one end of said spiral cam for operating said steam boxes into and out of contact with said interposed form and including a dwell portion for maintaining said contact throughout a substantial portion of the period of interposition of said form between said steam boxes, a pair of arms pivoted to and at opposite sides respectively of said track for supporting said steam boxes for rocking motion transversely of said track, a lever below and parallel to said shaft with one end in operating relation to the steam box operating cam on said shaft, and toggle means connecting the opposite end of said lever with said steam box supporting arms, valve means for admitting and exhausting steam to and from said steam boxes, and means operatively connecting said valve means to one of said steam box supporting arms to effect synchronization of said valve means and said steam boxes for admitting steam to said boxes only during the period of contact of said boxes with an interposed form.

HARRY F. WANAMAKER. 

